[Bangla Daily Star] State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku yesterday urged the police personnel to uproot the outlawed parties making the ongoing drive farther strong. Talking to reporters after a meeting in Pabna with top law enforcement officials from the country's north and southwest region, the state minister also defended the 'crossfire' saying the law enforcers have the right to defend themselves.
"There is no word called crossfire listed in the law enforcer's duties. Law enforcers have the right to save their lives if the criminals attack them," Tuku said.
The three-and-half-hour meeting was held at the conference room of Pabna Deputy Commissioner's office.
"If they (outlaw activists) submit any proposal (to surrender) to the government, authorities concerned will think of it (consideration). But they have to change themselves," the state minister said replying to a query.
Official sources said the police superintendents of Pabna, Rajshahi, Natore, Sirajganj, Kushtia, Jhenaidaha, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Manikganj and Rajbari participated in the meeting.
Additional Director General of Rab Col Mizanur Rahman, DIG of Police Khulna range Hemayet Uddin, Additional DIG of Rajshahi region Obaidur Rahman along with other police and Rab high officials attended the meeting.
Police officials briefed the state minister on outlaw scenario as well as overall law and order situation in their districts and asked for logistic supports to fight the law-breakers.
"Pabna is one of the most outlaw infested districts of this region. We need strong watch on outlaws and also the militants. But I do not have enough manpower," Nibas Chandra Majhi, SP of Pabna, told The Daily Star adding, "I request the minister to provide me with logistic support."
SP of Kushtia Md Shahabuddin said, "Each of the southern region police camps is comprised of only 15 policemen. We request the state minister to increase the manpower in every police camp."
Earlier on August 20, Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad and Director General of Rab Hassan Mahmood Khandaker visited Kushtia and directed the law enforcers to launch a joint drive.
Since then at least 16 extremists have been killed in 'shootouts' between the law enforcers and outlawed party men.
"A combing operation will be launched to cut down the strength of the outlaws and force their armed members to give in," said a senior official of the home ministry.
The home ministry is working as to whether the outlawed party activists, if surrendered, could be brought under general mercy like that of 1999 when 2,700 members of different outlawed parties surrendered with 2,100 firearms.